Folding sign



Nov. 9, 1954 F. G. TSCHIEDEL FOLDING SIGN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 25, 1953 INVENTOR Frank G. Tsc fu'e de/ ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. G. TSCHIEDEL FOLDING SIGN Nov. 9, 1954 Filed Aug. 25, 1953 INVENTOR l fdhk G. 7 8c/I/cdc/ ATTORNEY United States Patent FOLDINGSIGN Frank G. Tschiedel, Yoakum, Tex.

Application August 25, 1953, Serial No. 376,396

4 Claims. (c1. 40+12s This invention relates to signs of the type generally known as side-walk signs; and the object of the present invention is to provide a sign of the class mentioned which may be readily and quickly folded flat to occupy but little space for moving or transportation, and which may be as readily unfolded and extended for use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding sign as stated which may be folded and unfolded without the use of bolts, thumb-nut or other fastening or unfastening means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding sign comprising a two part folding signboard and a collapsible supporting frame which is folded flat with the signboard as the signboard is folded, and which will open into supporting position as the signboard is extended for use.

A further object is to provide a device as stated in which the folding frame and operative parts may all be made of stock material without requiring bending or special shaping of the same.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

With the above objects in view, the device embodying the invention consists generally in a two-part signboard comprising a lower section and an upper section hingedly connected, a pair of guide members rigidly fixed to said lower section of the board and spaced from the lateral edges thereof, a pair of legs pivotally connected to each of said guide members adjacent the upper ends thereof, a toggle connecting the legs of each pair, and a link connecting the knuckle of said toggle with said upper section of the board above the hinge whereby when said upper section is folded downwardly over the lower section, the legs will be swung into parallelism with each other and with said boards.

The invention further consists in various details of construction and arrangements of parts as will be described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a sign structure embodying the invention and illustrating the same in open or extended position for use;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device in extended position, and illustrating in dotted lines as partially folded;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the device;

Fig. 4 is a side view in completely folded position;

Fig. 5 is a section on substantially the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, illustrated upon an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 6 is a detail of the lower end of one of the guide members.

Referring to the drawings, 10 and 11 indicate the lower and upper sections respectively of a signboard, the latter being superposed on the lower section and connected thereto as by hinges 12. The sections 10 and 11 are of the same width, and are preferably of the same height, although the latter is not necessary.

Fixed to the lower section 10, and parallel with the lateral edges 10" thereof are a pair of guide members 13, each of which is preferably formed of an angle bar comprising a flange 14 and a broad web 15. The flange 14 of said guide member is preferably countersunk into the face of the board section 10, with the web 15 thereof spaced from the adjacent lateral edge of said board section providing a groove or recess 16 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The upper ends 13' of the guide members 13 terminate below the level of the upper edge 10 of the lower 2,693,655 Patented Nov. 9, 1954 2 board section 10; and pivotally connected as at 15 to the web 15 of each of the guides 13, and adjacent the upper ends thereof, is a pair of legs 17-17, the lower ends of which preferably extend below the lower end of the member 13 and broad section 10. The legs of each pair are connected intermediate their ends, as at 17',

by a toggle 18, the knuckle-pin 13' of which is extended inwardly and travels in a vertical guide slot 19 in the web 15 of the respective guidemembers 13. Connected to the inner .end of the knuckle-pin 18'. is an upwardly extending link 21, the upper end of which is pivotally connected, as at 22, to the lateral edge 11 of the upper board sectionll. By..this construction, the legs .17 and toggle 18 are positioned outwardly of the guide member, whereas the link 21 is arranged inwardly of said guide to travel in and occupy the vertical recess 16 between the web 15 and adjacent edge of the signboard. Preferably a bushing 23 is provided on the knuckle-pin 18 betileen the toggle 18 and the web 15 of the angle iron gm e.

The device may be readily folded into the position illustrated in Fig. 4 by merely swinging the upper section 11 downwardly, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. As the section 11 swings downwardly, the link 21 forces the knuckle-pin 18' of the toggle 18 downwardly in slot 19, thereby causing the legs to swing inwardly into folded position. It will be noted that the inner edges of the legs 17 are provided with notches 24 to receive the knuckle-pin 18 and bushing 23, in order that the legs may fold snugly together as shown in Fig. 4. The flange 15 is preferably equal in width to the combined thickness of the upper and lower sections 10 and 11 of the signboard, so that both sections may be folded into compact space between the same.

To open or extend the device for use, it is but necessary to unfold the board sections 10 and 11, and the up pull of the link 21 will operate the toggle to extend the legs into supporting position.

In the manufacture of the device, only stock materials are necessary, the legs 17, toggles 18, and links 21 being formed of standard size metal strips, and the angle bars 13 from which the guides are formed, are also of stock size. No bending or shaping of the several parts is required beyond cutting and trimming the stock material to proper lengths and end shapes, and drilling for the necessary pins and rivets.

I claim:

1. In a folding sign, upper and lower signboard sections, a hinge connection between the adjacent edges of said sections, a guide member mounted at each lateral edge of said lower section, each of said guidevmembers comprising an angle bar having a flange secured to the face of said section and a guide web parallel with said lateral edges and spaced therefrom forming elongated recesses between said side edges of the board and the guide webs, a pair of legs pivotally connected to the upper portion of said webs, a toggle connecting the legs of each pair, said toggle including an inwardly extending knuckle-pin, each of said guide webs having a longitudinal slot through which said pins extend, an upwardly extending link connected to each of said knuckle-pins and extending upwardly therefrom in said recesses respectively when said boards are in extended or folded extended position, and the upper ends of said links being pivotally connected to the upper section of said board above the axis of said hinge connection.

2. In a folding sign, upper and lower signboard sections, a hinge connection between the adjacent edges of said sections, a guide member mounted at each lateral edge of said lower section, each of said guide members comprising an angle bar having a flange countersunk in and secured to the lower board section and a guide web parallel with said lateral edges respectively and spaced therefrom, each of said guide webs having a longitudinal slot therein, a pair of legs pivotally connected to theupper portion of each of said webs, a toggle connecting the legs of each pair, said toggles each including a knuckle-pin extending through the slot in the respective guide web, and links connected at their lower end to said pins respectively, and the upper ends of said links being pivotally connected to the upper board section beyond the axis of said hinge connection.

3. A folding sign comprising upper and lower signboard sections, a hinge connection between the adjacent edges of said section, a guide member mounted at each lateral edge of said lowersection, each "of said guide members comprising an angle bar having a flange secured to said lower section and a guide web parallel with said edges respectively and spaced therefirom, each of said guide webs having a longitudinal slot therein; a pair of legs pivotally connectedto. the upper portion of each of said webs, a toggle connecting the :Iegs of each pair intermediate the ends thereof, 'saidi toggl'es each comprising a knuckle-pin extending through the slot in the respective guide web, a pair of links p'ivotally. connected to the upper board section beyond said ghin-ge connection, and arranged upon the opposite side of said 4 guide webs from said toggle, the lower end of said links being connected to the inner ends of said knuckle-pins, and1 bushings on said pins between said toggles and said gm es.

4. A folding sign as set forth in claim 3, in which the inner edges of said legs are provided with notches %ol;eceive said pins and bushings when the device is References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS.

Number 7 Name Date 376,852 Bulkley Jan. 24, 1888 648,402 Haar-mannetal. May 1, 1900 1,578,910 Nidle Mar. 30, 1926 2,187,870 Veccia Jan. 23, 1940 

